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2023 Summit League Men’s Basketball Tournament Basics

Dates

• Friday, March 3 (first round)
• Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5 (quarterfinals)
• Monday, March 6 (semifinals)
• Tuesday, March 7 (championship)

Format

Bracket with split quarterfinal doubleheaders, giving the top two seeds a day off before the semifinals (should they win).

Site

Even though this will be the ninth consecutive year the Denny Sanford Premier Center will be the site for the Summit League Tournament, the event has been a Sioux Falls, South Dakota fixture since 2009.

Participants

For the first time, all 10 Summit League teams will head to Sioux Falls. Note that St. Thomas (Minn.) will be ineligible for either the NCAA or NIT until 2027, thanks to their reclassification from Division III. The Tommies’ transition period is five years, not the normal four, because of their additional jump in classification.

Downloadable Bracket

Schedule

All times are p.m. Eastern.

First Round (Fri., March 3)

Game 1: (9) North Dakota 83, (8) Denver (15-17, 6-12) 66
Game 2: (10) Omaha 73, (7) Kansas City (11-21, 7-11) 61

Quarterfinals (Sat., March 4)

Game 3: (9) North Dakota (13-20, 6-12) 80, (1) Oral Roberts 96
Game 4: (10) Omaha (9-23, 4-14) 55, (2) South Dakota State 63

Quarterfinals (Sun., March 5)

Game 5: (5) St. Thomas 67, (4) Western Illinois (16-14, 9-9) 60
Game 6: (6) South Dakota (12-19, 7-11) 68, (3) North Dakota State 70

Semifinals (Mon., March 6)

Game 7: (5) St. Thomas (19-14, 9-9) 65, (1) Oral Roberts 70
Game 8: (3) North Dakota State 89, (2) South Dakota State (19-13. 13-6) 79

Championship (Tues., March 7)

Game 9: (3) North Dakota State (16-17, 11-7) 58, (1) ORAL ROBERTS (30-4, 18-0) 92

Mayhem Potential Since 2011

Data originally posted by Bob Vetrone Jr. on Twitter in 2020 with my own additions for the seasons beyond.

Since 2011, one of the Summit League’s top two seeds has won the automatic bid nine times. Six of those titles have gone to the No. 1, including last year’s. However, the No. 4 seed has won three of the last six championships.

But favorites still need to be wary of upsets. South Dakota State dropped its quarterfinal as 2019’s No. 1 seed, while the 2020 event saw both the 2 and 3 seeds fall at the first hurdle.

• 1 seed (6): 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2020, 2022
• 2 seed (3): 2012, 2015, 2016
• 4 seed (3): 2017, 2019, 2021

NCAA Seeding Record Since 2011

Years with an NCAA win are in bold.

• 12 seed (3): 2014, 2016, 2018
• 13 seed (3): 2011, 2013, 2022
• 14 seed (1): 2012
• 15 seed (2): 2015, 2021
• 16 seed (2): 2017, 2019 (First Four)

With last season’s 13 seed, South Dakota State ended the trend of the Summit rep alternating spots on the 12 and 15 or 16 lines. However, the conference has won games out of the 12, 15, and 16 slots, with 15th-seeded Oral Roberts winning two in 2021.

The Golden Eagles could end up as an 11 seed if they can add the Summit tournament title to their regular-season crown. South Dakota State is the league’s only other hope at avoiding the 16 line, however.

Last NCAA Tournament Appearances

South Dakota State: 2022 (13 seed, 1st Round)
Oral Roberts: 2021 (15 seed, Sweet 16)
North Dakota State: 2019 (16 seed, 1st Round)—2020 Summit League Tournament Champion
North Dakota: 2017 (15 seed, 1st Round, Big Sky member)

In 2021, Oral Roberts ended a run that saw either NDSU or SDSU win the Summit League Tournament for nine consecutive years. Meanwhile, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, now in the Horizon League, represented the conference in both 2010 and 2011. When you consider NDSU also qualified in 2009, Oral Roberts’ 2008 bid was the previous time a current Summit member not nicknamed “Bison” or “Jackrabbits” represented the conference in the field of 68.

Five members—Denver, Kansas City, Omaha, South Dakota, and Western Illinois—have never reached the Tournament—outside of College Hoops 2K8 anyway. St. Thomas won’t be eligible until the 2025-26 season.